Explorer reunited with gear

MOOLOOLABA’S mystery bluebottle snorkeller has been revealed to be a protector of the Antarctic ocean.

Australian Antarctic Division statistician Steve Candy braved multiple stings from the notorious jellyfish when he lost his $80 snorkel and mask at the popular beach spot last Saturday.

Mr Candy said he was “practising” for the real thing, an upcoming cruise to the French Polynesian Islands, when he felt something burning around his neck.

“I must have lost the snorkel and mask after getting dumped by a wave when swimming in to see the lifesavers,” Mr Candy said. “I had a chat with him and when he told me it was just bluebottles that had stung me, I started trying to find the snorkel and mask.”

Mr Candy never found his newly purchased snorkelling equipment and resigned himself to having to buy a new kit. But he never counted on the 200 nippers in training on Mooloolaba beach the very next day.

Twelve-year-old Elke Parker felt something brush against her leg and, on finding the snorkel and mask, brought them to her dad, lifesaver Craig Parker.

Mr Parker was the same lifesaver who had assisted the mystery snorkeller the day before.

Mr Parker contacted the Daily with the hope of finding the snorkel's owner and, after some help from a friend of Mr Candy who read the story, the pair were reunited again yesterday.

Mr Candy, who lives at Kingscliffe, Tasmania, regularly spends months at sea in the Antarctic as part of AAD. AAD's main charter is to ensure the advancement of Australia's Antarctic interest.